Cane or corn topper or header.



P. FERGUSON.

CANE GR CORN TOPPER OR HEADER,

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, ma.

Patented May 7, 19,18.

4 SHEE1SSHEET l- P. FERGUSON.

CANE 0R CORN TOPPER 0R HEADER. APPLICATION FILED MAR-1,1913.

1 ,26 5 ,7 1 0.. Patented May 7, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SIHEET 2.

an ue'ntoz iyzldwg P. FERGUSON.

CANE 0R CORN TOPPER 0R HEADER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-1 1913- I 1 ,265,710. Patented May 7,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 P. FERGUSONL CANE 0R CORN TOPP'ER 0R HEADER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I, 8913.

1,265,710. Patented May 7, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

um/whoa Fig; zzlswg the like,

pnrrn PRICE FERGUSON, OF TUTTLE, OKLAHOIEA, ASSIG-NOR TO MARK FERGUSON, OF

BLANCHARD, OKLAHOMA.

CANE R CORNTOPPER OR HEADER.

Application filed March 1, 1913. Serial No. 751,501.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Peron FERGUSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tuttle, in the county of Grady and State of Oklahoma, have invented a new and useful Cane or Corn Topper or Header; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to cane and corn toppers or headers.

An object of the invention is to provide a mechanism supporting and guiding frame to be carried by and braced relative to and upon a wagon body, in which frame a supplemental frame is vertically movable and adjustable.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism for adjusting the supplemental frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide cutting mechanism, carried by the supplemental frame and operated by suitable mechanisms having connections with the rear wheels of the wagon, for severing the tops of the cane or corn.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable cutting mechanism and conveyers, and to adjust one of the conveyers independent of the cutter and one of the conveyer mechanisms.

One of the features of the invention is the provision of a conveyer belt on which the tops of the cane or corn fall, in order to be conveyed to one side of the machine, where the tops are elevated by a second conveyer and deposited "into a suitable receptacle or for instance such as a wagon adapted to be driven alongside of the machine.

Another feature .of the invention is the provision of a reel for knocking the tops of the cane or corn upon the first conveyer belt.

The invention, as hereinafter to be set forth, is shown in simple form in the drawings, whereon Figure 1 is a view in perspective, showing the improved cane or corn topper or header constructed in accordance with the invention, and applied to a wagon body.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of gs Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1918.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. l. I

Fig. i is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the casting frame, and the lever for adjusting the same.

In these views similar characters of reference indicate similar parts.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the usual form of wagon body, havin the front wheels 2. The rear of the b0 y mounted upon the usual rear wheels 3. R0- tating with the rear wheels are sprockets 5, only one being shown. Mounted in bearings 6 of the wagon body is a drive shaft 7 having sprocket wheels 8. Passed about each of the sprocket wheels 8 is a sprocket chain 9. Each of the sprocket chains 9 passes about the corresponding sprocket 5, only one chain 9 being shown as actually engaging one of the sprockets 5, but it is perfectly evident from the manner in which the other chain is illustrated, that the same is designed to pass about a sprocket wheel similar to the one shown in the foreground of the drawing.

Also loosely mounted upon the shaft 7 is a sprocket 10, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. The sprocket wheel 10 is provided with a clutch member 11, with which the clutch device 12 (which is keyed upon the shaft 7 cooperates. A lever 18 having connections with the clutch device 12, is adapted for throwing the same in cooperation with the clutch member of the sprocket 10, whereby the said sprocket may be made to rotate with the shaft 7.

A frame 14 is provided, the corner posts 15 of which are provided with offset plates 16 to engage the upper edges of the sides of the wagon body, while the lower extremities of the posts 14 terminate in threaded extensions 17 passing through the bars 18 there being nuts or the like 19 connected or threaded to the extensions, thereby firmly clamping the frame in position. This frame is provided with an extension arch 20, which is braced relative to the frame 15 (which in turn is braced by'the rods 21 with regard to the wagon body) by means of the rods 22. The frame 15 is in turn braced with regard to the wagon body by the rods 21.

The frame 14 guides a supplemental frame 23, when adjusted to various positions. Mounted in bearings 24 of the frame 14 is a rock sha ft or rod having arms 26, which in turn are connected to the supplemental frame by the links 27.

To hold the supplemental frame in adjusted positions, lever 28 fixed to the rock shaft 25, and provided with suitable do 29 to engage the teeth 30 of the racl; 31. in this manner the supplemental frame may be raised and lowered by the lever 28, and held in adjusted positions by the dog 29, there being a hand grip Z32 for operating the dog.

Passing through the extension arch are two eye bolts between the adjustable nuts 3% of which bolts, and the bar 35 of the extension arch, are springs 36, which are compressed when the eye bolts are pulled downwardly slightly by the weight of the supplemental frame. tloimecting between the eye bolts and the supplemental frame, as at 37, are coil springs 38, which act to relieve the operator when manipulating the lever 28, of the dead weight of the supple mental frame. When the suplemental frame is lowered these springs 38, as well as the springs 36, tend to cushion the supplemental frame.

The supplemental frame constructed with a lateral extension frame 29 having a fender it), which includes an end piece ll.

Mounted in bearings of any suitable construction at the end of the lateral extension frame is a roller or drum l2, while in suitable bearings of the supplemental frame is a roller Passing about the rollers l2- and l3 a conveyor belt ii. Guided in bearings if) of one side of the lateral eXten' sion frame a mower sickle bar to, to which a pitman i7 connected, which in turn connected eccentrically to a dislr i8, which is mounted on the spindle 1-9 of the roller a3, and movable therewith. Extending laterally and upwardly from the other side of the frame ii is a second extension frame 50, in the upper end of which. a roller is mounted, over which and about the roller 52 (which mounted in bearings of the frame it) is a conveyer belt The two rollers and are geared together by the sprocket wheels 5% and 55 and the chain As the cane or corn tops are thrown upon the conveyer belt 474;, they are coni'eyed laterally, and then upwardly by the belt 53, and then into a second wagon, running alongside of the wagon carrying the machine.

Mounted in bearings 58 of the supplemental frame a shaft 59 having a beveled gear 60, which meshes with a beieled gear 61 of theextension 62 of the roller In this manner the two conveyer belts are operated, owing to the fact that the sprocket wheel 62 of the shaftis geared to the sprocketwheel 10 of the drive shaft T, by

- means of the chain :lr sprocket wheel Sal. is mounted upon and movable with the shaft 59. Mounted in bearings of the supplemental frame is a shaft- (55 having sprockets 66 and 67. Qhe sprocket 66 is geared to the sprocket 6-]: by the chain (58, while the sprocket 6? is geared to a sprocket 69 of a shaft 70, by means of a chain 71'. The shaft mounted in bearings 72 and has an oscillatory casting or frame 73, in a bearing of which av shaft Tl is mounted. lhe shaft T l has a sprocket geared to the sprocket 76' of the shaft TO, means of the chain T7. Fixed to an extension of the shaft 7% by means of the pins TS and the sleeve 79 is a reel 80, which acts to lrnoclc or throw the corn or cane tops upon the coni'eyer it. The reel is rotated, owing to the gear connections between the shaft it and the shaft 70, which has gear coinections with the shaft 59, which in turn is. operated by the chain 63 which passes about the sprocket 10. The reel may be adjusted in different positions, owing to the fact that the casting of frame 73 may be oscillated, by virtue of the lererSl, which has a rod connection with the casting of frame 73, which lever 81 may be held in adjusted positions by means of the dog 8t en= gaging the teeth of the rack 85. The dog SI may be manipulated by the hand grip 86. The cond extension frame which supports the conveyer belt may be tilted upwardly or downwardly as desire l, by operating the drum 89, which is held in adjusted positions by the ratchet and pawl device and 3)]..by means of the handle 92. lwo ropes or cables 93 are wound about the drum and are connected to the second lateral er:- lension frame. Thus the second conreyer is adjustable and independent of the conveyer and cutters,

it is to be ascertained from theforegoing that there has been devised asimple and etlicient machine for heading or topping lialir corn or cane, and one which has been found desirable and practicable.

llaring thus described this invention I claim:

1. In a machine as set forth, a wagon, a drive shaft, connections between the rear wheels of the wagon and said drive shaft, a main 'liraine detachably supported on the wagon, a supplemental frame Vert-icallyadjustablc and guided'in the main frame, saidsupplemental frame having'laterally operable conreyer belts at the rear of a topping mechanism, a cane topping severing mechanism carried by the supplemental frame, a reel device for throwing the tops on one of the conveyor belts, gear connections be tween said belts, the severing mechanism and the reel, and said drive shaft for operating said mechanisms simultaneously,

means for adjusting the reel, cutters and eonveyers together within the frame, means lit for independently adjusting one of the conveyers, means for adjusting the reel, and means to throw the mechanism in and out of engagement with the driving shaft.

2. In a machine as set forth, a wagon, a drive shaft, connections between the driving shaft and the rear wheels, a main frame detachably supported on the wagon, a supplemental frame vertically adjustable and guided in the main frame, said supplemental frame having laterally operable conveyer belts at the rear of a topping device, a cane topping severing mechanism carried by said supplemental frame, a reel device for throwing the tops on one of the conveyer belts, gear connections between said belts, the sevcring mechanism and the reel and said drive shaft for operating said mechanisms simultaneously, means for adjusting the supplemental frame and holding the same in adjusted positions, and means for independently adjusting the inclination of an inclined conveyer adjustable with the supplemental frame.

3. In a machine as set forth, a wagon, a drive shaft having connections with the rear wheels thereof, a main frame detachably supported on the wagon body, a supplemental frame vertically movable and guided in the main frame, said supplemental frame having laterally operable conveyer belts at the rear of a cutting mechanism, and provided with a cane topping severing mechanism, a reel device for throwing the tops on one of the conveyer belts, and carried by the supplemental frame, gear connections between said belts, the severing mechanism and the reel and said shaft for operating said mechanism simultaneously, means for shifting the reel device to different positions, means to independently adjust the inclination of one of the conveyors in any of its adjusted positions, and a clutch for throwing in the power from the drive shaft.

l. In a machine as set forth, a wagon, a drive shaft having connections with the rear wheels thereof, a main frame, detachably supported on the wagon body, asupplemental frame vertically movable and guided in the main frame, said supplemental frame having laterally operable and adjustable conveyer belts at the rear of a topping device and provided with an adjustable cane topping severing mechanism, an adjustable reel device for throwing the tops on one of the conve-yer belts, said belts the severing mechanism and the reel having gear connections with the said drive shaft for operating said mechanism simultaneously, means for adjusting the reel device to different positions, said main frame having an extension arch, yielding means connecting the arch and the supplemental frame, means for adjusting the topper and conveyer together and a conveyer independently a fender carried by the supplemental frame, and a clutch for said drive shaft.

5. In a machine as set forth, a wagon, a drive shaft having I connections with the rear wheels thereof, a main frame detachably supported on the wagon body, a supplemental frame vertically movable and guided in the main frame, said supplemental frame having laterally operable conveyer belts and provided with an adjustable cane topping severing mechanism, a reel device for throwing the tops ofone of the conveyer belts, said belts, the severing mechanism and the reel having connections with the drive shaft for operating said mechanisms simultaneously and means for shifting the reel device to different positions, said main frame having an extension arch, and yieldable means connecting the arch and thesupplemental frame, means for raising and lowering the supplemental frame, and holding the same in adjusted positions, a clutch in said driving shaft, and a fender surrounding the conveyer.

6. In a machine as set forth, a wagon, a main frame rising from the wagon, a supplemental frame adapted to be raised and lowered vertically in the main frame, and provided with a cutting mechanism and a eonveyer mechanism, a drive shaft mounted in bearings of the supplemental frame, a plate pivoted on the drive shaft, a reel having an adjustable reel shaft mounted in a bearing of the free end of said plate, connections between the reel shaft and the driven shaft, means carried by the supplemental frame and connected to the plate for oscillating the same, whereby the reel may be thrown forwardly and rearwardly an extended adjustable conveyer, a fender for the conveyer and cutters carried by the supplemental frame.

7. In a machine as set forth, the combination with a wagon having a body, of a main frame rising vertically from the body, a supplemental frame adapted to be adjusted vertically in the main frame, a cutting mechanism carried by the supplmental frame, a conveying mechanism carried by said supplemental frame, a driven shaft mounted in said bearings of the supplemental frame a plate having a sleeve at its lower end receiving the driven shaft to act as a pivot for the plate, said plate having a sleeve at its upper end, a reel shaft mounted in said sleeve at the end of said plate, and provided with a reel, connections between the reel shaft and the driven shaft, a rod connected to the frame portion of said plate, means carried by the supplemental frame for reciprocating said rod to oscillate the plate whereby the reel may be adjusted forwardly and rearwardly, while owing to the vertical adjustment of the supplemental frame the Leeann reel is moved vertically with the supplemental frame, and a laterally extended conveyer adjustable independent of the main shaft. i

S. In a machine as set'i orth, the combination with a wagon having a body and provided with front and rear wheels, of a skeleton rectangular main frame rising vertically from the body. said main shaft having a transverse member, a supplemental frame adapted to be adjusted rertically and guided in the main frame, means for adjusting the supplemental frame, devices connecting the transverse members of the main frame and the supplemental frame to relieve the dead ht ot the SUPPlCHlQTiifll frame upon the adjusting means thereoi a cutting mechanism carried by the supplemental frame, a conveying mechanism carried by said supplementai frame connections between the cutting and conveying mechanism and the rear wheels of the wagon, a drive shaft mounted in bearing of the supplemental frame andehaving gear connections with the first connections, a plate pivoted upon the driren shaft, a reel shaft journaled in the free end of said plate and provided with a reel, sprocket connections between the reel shaft and driven shaft a lever and rod connection for oscillating said plate whereby the reel may be moved bodily forward and backward independently of the supplemental t'rame, said supplemental frame being vertically adjustable so as to move the reel vertically owing to the two moving ertically as one body, and a laterally extending conreyer adjustably independent of the main frame.

ln testimony whereot I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of i two subscribing witnesses.

PRICE- FERGUSON.

ll itnesses JOHN L. OLIVER 7 Cl. A. CAMPBELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, L1G. 

